Will Hodgman: Renewed Confidence: Jobs, Tourism, Economy

The Macquarie No. 1 Shed development is a further indication of renewed confidence in Tasmania and the Liberal Government’s plan to grow the economy, jobs and tourism.

I congratulate the Vos Group and the Federal Group on their $35 million investment, which will transform the Macquarie No. 1 shed into a luxury hotel with a vibrant hospitality and retail precinct.
This project has been facilitated by this Government’s headworks holiday.

It is this Government’s plan to attract 1.5 million visitors to Tasmania by 2020 and it’s attractions like the Macquarie No. 1 Shed that will help to achieve this.

The Federal Group expects an occupancy rate at the new 113-room hotel to be on par with its Henry Jones Art Hotel, which records strong occupancy year round.

This will go a long way to addressing the bed-squeeze in Hobart’s popular CBD, with hotel’s often booked out and a reported lack of luxury accommodation.

The restaurant, cafe and retail precinct will help to build on Tasmania’s $1.6 billion tourism industry and add to the state’s list of world class attractions.

Since coming into office in March, the Liberal Government has remained committed to restoring confidence and creating the right environment for job creation.

This includes making the headworks holiday permanent; a move that Vos Construction says saved them $500,000 and changed the viability of the project.

This project will create up to 100 jobs in the 12-month constructing phase, and a further 80 ongoing jobs are expected once the hotel, restaurants and retailers are operational from late 2015.

I welcome the Vos and the Federal groups’ investment in Tasmania and thank them for their contribution to building a strong economy, creating jobs and boosting tourism.
Will Hodgman, Premier Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events